Since I’m fairly new here I’m curious to what everyone models. Is it prototype or fantasy or a little of both? When I started latest layout I wanted to do DT&I, but I really like the newer diesels so I’m going to model it like they never left. Even gonna throw in some CSX since thats what is usually in the local yards. The biggest thing I’m working on now is making the rolling stock look real, weathering, graffiti, etc. So I guess I would say mine is a little of both.
Fiction based on fact.
I model a freight depot and fueling/servicing track along the New York Central (NYC) in the early 40s. It’s not really a specific location on the NYC but I’m trying to base it according to their practices and rosters. So, technically, it would be called a “protolance” layout - i.e. more fact than fiction.
Tom
Most of what I model is fact. I am modeling two sections of the CSX mainline between Atlanta and Nashville: one 10 mile section in Georgia and one 10 mile section in Alabama/Tennessee. However, I have some fiction as well. For example, I plan on modeling the large Goodyear mill in Cartersville, GA as a complete functioning facility, when in reality it was shut down in 2003 and did not operate at full capacity for many years prior to that. I am also going to have to come up with a fictional town where the NS splits off of the CSX just north of Chattanooga, TN because the layout space available will not allow me to model the actual location where this happens.
By the way, I bounced back and forth for years on whether to model a real railroad or make something up before I finally settled on the real thing. One of my proposed models was very similar to what you are thinking about doing. I was going to model the old Seaboard Air Line route from Hamlet, NC to Atlanta, GA just as if it still existed today (the line is still in service but it is of course now CSX). I still wonder what a modern deisel would look like in the green & cream SAL colors.
Jamie
My layout is based loosely on the Santa Fe (KCM&O) from Alpine, TX to Presidio, TX. Since I don’t quite want to build a large permanant layout yet (we are an Air Force family), it is mostly fiction right now.
Fact. It will be most of CN’s Dartnouth sub…when I get started[sigh]
I model fiction based on fiction [:)] It’s a fictional short line that uses Union Pacific and Missouri-Northern Arkansas trackage. My short line is owned by an eccentric gentleman who grew up riding trains. He has amassed various old complete trains (steam, transitional diesel) that he brings out from time to time for railfanning trips.
What he said…fictional line based on several factual ones
Part of my modeling is, “Fictionalized fact” - based on the actual timetable ops of a Nihon Kokutetsu main line with the station names changed. I made no attempt to model the actual track layouts of the various stations. All JNR rolling stock is prototypical, but some of it may never have run in the area modeled and one diesel-hydraulic is a couple of years early.
Part of my modeling is, “Transplanted, seriously modified, fact” - my coal-originating short line. There were no coal mines in the area. They were transplanted from another island, a distance of several hundred miles, and time-jumped forward a decade or so to keep them operating. Also, the actual mines were located in an area of low, rolling hills. I’ve transplanted them into an area where the ground stands on edge.
Part of my modeling is a wild feat of imagineering. That coal road operates locomotives that never were (although they could have been - the engineering is sound) and hopper cars of no known ancestry.
All of my modeling is fun - for me. Others have met it with everything from amusement to outrage. Their problem, not mine.
Chuck (modeling Central Japan in September, 1964)
My layout is based on the Ma&Pa in the early 50’s. But I reserve the right to have anomalies such as Billboard reefers, a camelback locomotive (if I can find one in S that I can afford), and any others that may appeal to me.
Enjoy
Paul
Protolance here too
Fact based on fiction. The time-frame (1939-53) is authentic, so are my Rio Grande and Southern Pacific steamers, the setting is a fictional California Extension of the Rio Grande through the Yuba River watershed of the California Sierra Nevada, midway between Espee’s Donner Pass line and WP’s Feather River route. Espee has trackage rights. That way I can run my two favorite mountain railroads.
Tom
Fact, fiction and a little pure BS. [:D]
Fact: It’s based on a real rail line in Southern NH that was pulled up long ago.
Fiction: I have no intention of counting trees and rocks.
Conclusion: A little of both.
DT&Ifan, you’ve been up on the forum for seven months now but I don’t think I’ve had the opportunity to respond to any of your previous postings so I will take this belated opportunity to welcome you to the forum.
To a certain extent all of our model railroads–whether modeling the AT&SF or, as I do, a “freelanced” Seaboard and Western Virginia Railway–“freelanced” is the term we use for a railroad which never existed–are fantasies. In most cases the space confinements of our (model) railroad prohibits us from doing more than giving superficial representation to our mainline. As an example even if we desired to model a 5 mile stretch of our railroad tie-by-tie, spike-by-spike, tree-by-tree, farm building-by-farm building, etc, etc, and so forth would require a trackage length of over 300’ in HO-Scale–165’ in N-Scale. I don’t know for sure but I’m not sure that I could even get 165’ of track down in the space I (will) have available for my railroad without cramming. As much as I would like to, I suppose, I would like to have enough room that I could build a “one scene” railroad. This concept has been promoted by such signature modelers as Eric Brooman and Allen McClellen–only “one track” ever passes through “one scene”. Instead–I believe this would be true if a poll were taken–most of of the track on our (model) railroad folds back on our available space and passes through a specified scene more than once usually on an elevated level. So also “our railroad” might cross “our railroad” either “at grade” or on a bridge something which is extremely rare on the prototype. As an example my hometown up in Eastern Idaho fronts on the Onion Specific for approximately ¾ of a mile and the commercial buildings along the highway which parallels this “main drag” face only to the east and are set back about 300’–41" in HO-Scale; 22.5" in N-Scale. Those spaces may be compatible with a club lay
DT&Ifan, although you joined the forum over seven months ago I don’t believe I have ever responded to one of your postings so I will extend a belated welcome.
Our whole model railroad environment is one of fantasy whether we are modeling the AT&SF or my Seaboard and Western Virginia Railway, a railroad which never existed in reality. We refer to my “type” of railroad as "freelanced ". Recently a term “protolancing” has begun to enter the model railroad lexicon implying a “real” railroad running in a fictitious environment but I still refer to that environment as “freelanced”. My Seaboard and Western Virginia Railway is “freelanced” i.e. fictitious but it is–or hopefully is–real in that I aspire to being as accurate as possible to general prototype practice.
Our space limitations render us to particular prototype limitations; as an example were you to desire to model a five mile stretch of the XYZ railroad between point A and point B; were you to desire to model this stretch of track tie-by-tie, spike-by-spike, stone-by-stone would required 300’ in HO-Scale–165’ in N-Scale. As an N-Scaler I figure I have a reasonable–and average–amount of space for the erection of a model railroad but even that amount of track is prohibitive without cramming. We might, therefore, reduce the length of our track by a factor of 12–1/12th the number to ties; 1/12th the number of spikes; 1/12th the number of stones–and only have to lay down 25’ of track instead of 300’, a considerable savings of monetary resources and a considerable economy of space. We do the same thing with structures–instead of a 32-bin grain elevator we use one with 8 bins–instead of a fruit sorting shed which could handle thirteen reefers we compress it to handle four instead. The spirit and operational concept of our railroad will, hopefully, will be maintained with these modifications. We refer to these modifications to reality as "[i]selective
Mine, the Blackwater and Butte Creek RR, is fiction-based and it has some warped time, too.
I want the atmosphere of Mayberry and the look of Hooterville and yet I try to keep it plausible.
It’s set in the 1930s but I casually left out the Depression and racism. I also pretend that piston valves and diesels are still on the drawing board (I like the way slide valve era locomotives look kind of like espresso machines with wheels). In my depiction of the world there’s not much grit, automobiles and trucks last forever, everyone has a job, nobody litters, trains are kept clean and in good repair, and nobody moves very fast (trains included).
I model fiction based on fact.
That is, my RR is freelance, but everything I do on it I try to base on fact, as if it would have been done on a real RR.
Same here, the Seneca Lake, Ontario, and Western (SLOW) is a fictional shortline railroad in the Finger Lakes Region of NYS. It is based on the premise that something like the Finger Lakes Scenic Railway might have existed back in 1925. Some of the buildings and scenes on the layout are of real local places, but most is freelanced.
Thanks,
Yep I joined a while ago but when stuff woudn’t work with a MAC I kinda just lurked. When I did post I was accused of being a troll just trying to start trouble over ebay and their paypal stuff. I don’t hold that againt anyone on here except the person who did it, as I had been a member for 6 months and never really had anything to say. It wasn’t like I joined just to bash e bay. All in all most members seem to great. I hope to be here a long time and look forward to making some new friends.
Lonnie